Description

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What happens when a little white fox meets a certain jolly old soul? A sweet, enchantingly illustrated take on how Santa spends the year leading up to Christmas.

When a hunting fox pounces through the snow and finds itself inside a warm home, it's welcomed and given dinner by a kind bearded man with a big round belly. Soon yawning, the man leaves the fox to explore through piles of strewn wrapping paper and rows of empty shelves. As the man sleeps, the fox curls up, too, until sun and flowers return, luring them both outside. But soon the man gets back to work—drawing and measuring, painting and hammering, sewing and stuffing, until all the empty shelves are filled from top to bottom. Paired with Richard Jones’s charmingly detailed illustrations, Polly Faber’s gentle story offers a fresh look at how Santa prepares for the most magical night of the year.

About the Author

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Polly Faber is the author of All Through the Night, illustrated by Harriet Hobday, Building a Home, illustrated by Klas Fahlén, Pony on the Twelfth Floor, illustrated by Sarah Jennings, and Mango & Bambang: The Not-a-Pig, illustrated by Clara Vulliamy. She lives in London.


Richard Jones is the illustrator of numerous picture books, including The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems by Paul B. Janeczko and Bird Builds a Nest by Martin Jenkins. He lives in England.

Praise For…

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In this quiet tale envisioning Santa’s off-season, a hungry little white fox in search of something tasty finds a special new friend at the North Pole. . . . Faber’s evocative text invites readers into the fox’s discovery of the man’s true identity, while Jones’s textured, mixed-media artwork fills in details, depicting Santa’s peaceful lifestyle amid a crisp rugged landscape and a rustic house where a lap fox feels right at home.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

This foxy spin on a beloved Christmas character will put readers in the holiday mood. . . . This quiet, Santa-centric story is original, and holiday-minded readers will appreciate the unique angle. . . . As delightful and sweet as a candy cane.
—Kirkus Reviews

A lovely tale whose mixed-media illustrations and quiet, wondrous tone bring to mind Eric Carle’s Dream Snow and Jan Brett’s holiday tales. . . . Richard Jones’ exquisite illustrations underscore the subdued nature of this tale. . . Families feeling overwhelmed by seasonal excess will find Through the North Pole Snow a welcome respite.
—BookPage

While searching for food in the snow, a white fox is rescued by a kindly man. . . Faber’s soothing narrative recounts the fox’s year watching its host create toys he then matches with letters that fall from the sky. . . Jones’s textured mixed-media illustrations beautifully contrast the bold hues of cold winter nights and the pastel warmth inside the fox’s new North Pole home.
—The Horn Book

The cozy picture book ends with a lovely scene of a happier Santa and the fox, both cheerfully content with their new arrangement at home. . . . A beautifully illustrated holiday picture book for people looking for a unique Christmas story.
—School Library Journal

Small children looking forward to Christmas will find characters to love in ‘Through the North Pole Snow,’ a picture book written by Polly Faber and illustrated by Richard Jones. . . . Unlike the reader, the fox doesn’t know who he’s living with until the final pages, a deferred realization that adds sweetness to this Yuletide tale for children ages 3-6.
—The Wall Street Journal